Rail bracket mounting system with locking pin

ABSTRACT

A rail bracket mounting system, including a bracket that is attached to a post. The bracket is formed to support the notching of a rail. The end of a rail is then nested into the bracket, and is supported by the bracket. The rail is then secured to the bracket by fasteners such as screws, and a cover may then be placed over the bracket, housing the securing fasteners. The rail may be hollow or solid. A hollow rail may be reinforced along its entire length by the insertion of one or more reinforcing members through a hollow portion of the rail.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/039,234, filed Dec. 31, 2001, entitled “RailBracket Mounting System,” which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety and which is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/919,502, filed Jul. 31, 2001, entitled “RailBracket Mounting System,” which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety and which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/844,846, filed Apr. 28, 2001, entitled“Rail Bracket Mounting System,” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety, including but not limited to those portionsthat specifically appear hereinafter.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. The Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to a rail attachmentbracket system, and more particularly, but not entirely, to a railattachment bracket system that provides a uniquely effective attachmentof a fence rail to a fence post.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] It is a common practice to construct fencing from a system ofvertical posts connected by horizontal rails to which pickets areattached. Commonly, these pieces are attached to each other with nails,screws, or nuts and bolts. These fasteners have a small surface area ofcontact against the piece fastened, resulting in a connection that maybe insecure or easily disconnected. Such fasteners also protrude fromthe fence and can pose a safety risk by contact with the skin, resultingin cuts and abrasions. To attach a rail to a post using theseconventional fasteners requires that the rail be separately supporteduntil the rail is secured to the post. A user is thus required to use aseparate means to support the rail, before screwing or belting the railto the post. This is laborious and time consuming.

[0007] Attempts have been made in the prior art to provide alternativesto the conventional fasteners. U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,671, granted Feb. 23,1999 to West (herein after the “'671 patent”) discloses a railattachment bracket with a snap on cover. The '671 bracket consists of ainternal support member that is attached to a vertical post, and theopen end of a hollow rail is slipped over the internal support member ofthe bracket. The rail may be secured to the internal support, and asnap-on cover is placed over the rail and internal support connection.

[0008] One advantage of the '671 bracket is that once the rail isinstalled on the bracket, the bracket provides independent support tothe rail. Another advantage is that when the rail is secured to thebracket, the fasteners are then covered by the snap-on cover andconcealed from view for a more aesthetically pleasing look. However, therail is supported internally and without any external support. This bothlimits the bracket to use with a hollow rail with an adequately largeopening and also places the weight of the rail against the inside of thetop wall of the rail. If additional pressure is placed on the rail, thetop wall can fail, requiring the rail to be replaced. The internalsupport also interferes with the placement of longitudinal reinforcingstructure inside the rail.

[0009] Reinforcement means for a hollow fence rail have been commonlyprovided by placing a metal rod within the fence rail, such that the rodextends throughout the entire length of the rail. Such a fence rail isattached to the posts by aligning the protruding end of the metal rodwith an opening in the post, and thereafter securing the rail to thepost with screws. This arrangement still requires the user to provideseparate support for the rail until the attachment is secured, andleaves the head of the screws exposed. It also requires the user toalign the rail to the post so the rod may enter the opening.

[0010] It is noteworthy that none of the prior art known to applicantprovides a rail bracket system capable of holding the rail in positionfor attachment to the post, without requiring separate support of therail to accomplish the attachment.

[0011] The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages thatare addressed by the present invention. The present invention minimizes,and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and otherproblems, by utilizing the methods and structural features describedherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequentdetailed description presented in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective, break-away view of a rail bracketmounting system made in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a frontal view of another embodiment of a rail bracketmounting system of made in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective, break-away view of another embodiment ofa rail bracket mounting system, made in accordance the principles of thepresent invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective, break away view of another embodiment ofthe rail bracket mounting system of FIG. 3;

[0017]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment ofthe rail bracket mounting system of FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment ofthe rail bracket mounting system of FIG. 3; and

[0019]FIG. 7 shows the system of FIG. 5 in a partially assembledarrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principlesin accordance with the invention, reference will now be made to theembodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will beused to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that nolimitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Anyalterations and further modifications of the inventive featuresillustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles ofthe invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to oneskilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure,are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.

[0021] The invention is directed to a system for attaching fence memberstogether with a bracket. FIGS. 1-3 show some of the possible embodimentsof the invention. The support bracket 14 is attached to the post 10. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the bracket has been attached by screws22, but any suitable method to attach the bracket 14 to the post 10,such as nails, bolts, or the use of a chemical adhesive will suffice.Note that in the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 the post 10 is notshown in order to more clearly show the rail bracket mounting system. Inone preferred embodiment, the post is a PVC fence post, but any postconstructed of suitable material will suffice. The bracket 14 features abottom ledge 18 which is constructed to support the weight of a rail.Rail 12 is placed into the bracket 14. In the preferred embodiment, therail 12 is placed into two brackets 14, one at each end of the rail 12.This allows the rail to be cut to the exact length needed. When the rail12 is placed into the bracket, the bottom wall 28 of the rail 12 isplaced on top of the bottom ledge 18, and the side walls 30 of the rail12, lie adjacent to at least a portion of the side supports 20 of thebracket 14. The rail 12 is thus “nested” in the bracket. It will beappreciated that any number of alternative shapes for the rail 12 andbracket 14 are possible, including a rail 12 that is cylindrical oroctagonal in shape, or a rail having a decorative portion above thebracket, among many others, with a bracket 14 that is similarlyconfigured. In any embodiment the bracket 14 preferably supports therail 12 at least in part from a point on the bottom surface 28 of therail. It will be appreciated that all such variations of the shape ofthe rail 12 and bracket 14 are within the scope of the presentinvention.

[0022] It will be appreciated that in some preferred embodiments, theside supports 20 of the bracket 14 are configured to help support therail 12. The side supports 20 may also be configured to secure the rail12 in the bracket 14. This is most clearly demonstrated by theembodiment shown in FIG. 3. The side supports 20 of this embodimentinclude a flat surface 34 and a ridge 37. When the rail 12 is nested inthe bracket 14, the sidewalls 30 of the rail are held between the ridges37. The top surface of the ridges 37 enter a channel 38 on the rail 12acting to secure the rail in the bracket. Optionally, the rail 12 may beconfigured to engage in an interference fit with the bracket, forexample by modification of the channel and ridge structure that isdepicted in FIG. 3. The side supports 20, of the embodiment of FIG. 3also feature a flat surface 34. When the rail 12 is nested in thebracket 14, the flat surface 34 lies underneath a corresponding bottomside surface 36 on the rail 12, providing additional support for therail. It will be appreciated that other configurations of the bracket14, including the side supports 20 and the rail 12, including structuresfor interacting with the bracket 14 so as to be secured in the bracket14 or supported by the side supports 20, are readily ascertainable tothose skilled in the art, from the teachings herein and are includedwithin the scope of the present invention.

[0023] When the rail 12 is nested in the bracket 14, the bracket holdsand supports the rail. If the rail 12 is nested in a bracket 14 at bothends, the rail 12 is completely supported against downward verticaldisplacement. Once the rail 12 has been nested in the bracket 14, therail may be secured to the bracket 14. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3,this may be accomplished by attaching a connector, such as a screwthrough the opening 24 in the side support 20 of the bracket 14. It willbe appreciated that many alternative structures can be used to securethe rail 12 to the bracket 14, and that such structures are within thescope of the present invention.

[0024] Once the rail 12 has been secured, a cover 16 may be used toconceal the connector used to secure the rail 12 to the bracket 14. Insuch an embodiment, the cover 16 is first placed onto the rail 12 suchas in the manner shown in FIG. 3, prior to the rail 12 being nested inthe bracket 14. Once the rail 12 is nested within the bracket 14, thecover 16 is then slid along the rail 12 and over the bracket 14. Thecover 16 may, if desired, be designed to attach to the bracket 14 by theinteraction of cover projections 32 with receiving openings 26 locatedon the side wall 20 of the bracket 14. This is best shown in theembodiment of FIG. 2, which depicts a cover 16 in the installed positionrelative to the bracket 14. It will be appreciated that many alternativestructures, readily ascertainable to those skilled in the art, cansuffice to attach the cover 16 to the bracket 14, and that suchstructures are within the scope of the present invention.

[0025] By providing a bracket 14 attached to a post 10, in which therail 12 may be nested prior to securing the rail 12 to the bracket 14,the present invention accomplishes the object of holding the rail 12during the attachment of the rail 12 to the post 10 in a fence system.This provides an advantage over the prior art, in which the rail must besupported by some means other than the bracket during the installationprocedure to attach the fence rail to the fence post. By supporting therail 12 beneath its lowest portion, the system allows the rail 12 tospan the length of the space between the posts and have support that isless likely to weaken the rail. This is an advantage over the devicedisclosed in the '671 patent, described in the background section above,which requires the rail 12 to be shorter than the space between therails, so that internal supports may be inserted into the rail. Thepresent invention also avoids focusing the stress on the internalsurface of the top wall of a hollow rail, and allows the system to beused with a solid rail 12 (as represented in FIG. 1.), both of which areadvantages over the '671 patent. The rail 12 of the embodiments of FIGS.2, 3 and 4 are hollow, illustrating the versatility of the invention.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an alternative structurefor the rail 12, which may be used in an embodiment of the presentinvention. Unlike the rail 12 of FIG. 2, which may be solid inconstruction, rail 12 is hollow. Preferably, rail 12 is constructed ofPVC and is used as part of a PVC picket fence system, although it may beconstructed of any suitable material. Rail 12 has a decorative topportion, generally indicated at 42, and contains internal walls 44 whichdivide the hollow interior. Reinforcement cavities 46, 51 and 52 arecontained within the rail 40. The reinforcement cavities are defined bythe bottom wall 49 of the rail 40 and internal walls 44. It will beappreciated that a reinforcement cavity may comprise the entire interioror there may be a plurality of reinforcement cavities as shown toprovide additional reinforcement. A reinforcement member 48 may beinserted into the cavity 46. The reinforcement member 48 is preferablyformed to fill the entire reenforcement cavity 46, but need not do so.The reinforcement member 48 may be constructed of any material capableof giving additional strength to the rail 12. The preferred materialsfor the reinforcement member 48 are steel and aluminum. Thereinforcement member 48 may extend the entire length of the rail 12.FIG. 1 also shows reinforcement cavities 46, 51 and 52.

[0027] By using a rail 12 that is reinforced throughout its length, in amounting system such as that in FIGS. 2, 3 or 4, the invention combinesthe advantages of a reinforced rail, with the advantages of a nestingmounting system.

[0028] In accordance with the features and combinations described above,one preferred method of attaching members in a fence system comprisingupwardly-extending fence posts and laterally-extending fence railsincludes the steps of:

[0029] (a) selecting a first non-metallic fence bracket configured to beattached to a fence post that is upwardly-extending in orientation, thefirst non-metallic bracket further comprising at least a first ledge andat least two sides;

[0030] the ledge disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of alaterally-extending fence rail inserted into said first nonmetallicbracket, each side disposed to support at least a portion of a side ofsaid rail;

[0031] such that said first non-metallic bracket is capable ofsupporting the rail when an end of the rail is inserted therein;

[0032] (b) attaching the bracket to the post;

[0033] (c) selecting a fence rail and placing a first end of the railinto the non-metallic bracket, such that the rail is supported by thenon-metallic bracket; and

[0034] (d) securing the rail to the bracket.

[0035] It is further preferred to practice this method by attaching asecond non-metallic bracket to a second post and insert the second endof the rail into the second non-metallic bracket, such that the rail isentirely supported by the first and second non-metallic brackets, thensecuring the rail to the first and second non-metallic brackets.

[0036] Also in accordance with the features and combinations describedabove, another preferred method of attaching members in fence systemcomprising upwardly-extending fence posts and laterally-extending fencerails includes the steps of:

[0037] (a) selecting a first bracket configured to be attached to afence post that is upwardly-extending in orientation, the first bracketfurther comprising at least a first ledge and at least two sides;

[0038] the ledge disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of a firstend of a laterally-extending fence rail inserted into said firstbracket, each side disposed to support at least a portion of a side ofone end of said rail;

[0039] such that said first bracket is capable of supporting the railwhen an end of the rail is inserted therein;

[0040] (b) attaching the first bracket to the post;

[0041] (c) selecting a fence rail and placing a first end of the railinto the first bracket, such that the rail is supported by the firstbracket;

[0042] (d) securing the rail to the first bracket;

[0043] (e) selecting a bracket cover designed and configured to attachto the first bracket and conceal the attachment of the rail to the firstbracket, said cover comprising at least one fastening structure, suchthat when the cover is attached to the bracket, the fastening structureinteracts with the receiving structure to secure the cover to thebracket; and

[0044] (f) attaching the cover to the first bracket.

[0045] In a more preferred embodiment, this method further comprisesattaching a second bracket to a second post, and inserting the secondend of the rail into the second bracket, such that the rail is entirelysupported by the first and second, then securing the rail to the firstand second brackets, and selecting and attaching a second bracket coverto the second bracket.

[0046] It will be appreciated that the structures and methods includedin the present invention thus provide a rail bracket mounting systemthat is simple in design and operation and is capable of being used witha hollow rail or a solid rail. It will be further appreciated thatcertain embodiments of the present invention provide a rail bracketmounting system that supports the rail during attachment so the rail maybe secured without separate support and some embodiments of the presentinvention provide such a rail bracket mounting system that provides ameans to guide a rail into alignment with the post.

[0047] It will also be appreciated that the present invention, in someembodiments provides a support means that resides below the lowestportion of the rail. Other embodiments provide a means by which a hollowrail may be reinforced along its entire length. It will also beappreciated that the present invention, in accordance with one aspectthereof, provides a rail bracket mounting system in which the securingfasteners are not exposed.

[0048] It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements areonly illustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may bedevised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intendedto cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the presentinvention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above withparticularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed tobe the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, itwill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerousmodifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size,materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly anduse may be made without departing from the principles and concepts setforth herein.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of analternative embodiment of the fastener used to attach the rail 12 to thebracket 14. The rail 12 and bracket 14 shown in FIG. 5 are substantiallythe same as the embodiment of FIG. 2, with the exception that thebracket 14 in FIG. 5 has slot openings 61 formed in the bracket 14. Inthis embodiment, a pin 60 acts as the fastener that extends through theholes 62 of fence rail 12 to attach the rail 12 to the bracket 14 byengagement of the pin 60 against the bracket edges that form the opening24. The pin 60 may comprise a {fraction (3/16)} inch stainless steelrod, but may also be constructed of any suitable material known to thoseskilled in the art. It will be appreciated that the pin 60 can be usedas a fastener in all of the various embodiments of the invention, andmay have a smooth exterior surface characterized by an absence ofthreads.

[0050] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a perspective view of therail 12 and bracket 14 embodiment of FIG. 3, with the addition of a pin60, wherein the pin 60 is used to attach the rail 12 to the bracket 14.The embodiment in FIG. 6 has substantially the same bracket 14 as theembodiment of FIG. 3, with the exception that the opening 24 in thebracket 14 of the embodiment in FIG. 6 is a different shape than theopening 24 in the bracket 14 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a perspective view of thepin 60 being inserted into the rail 12 and bracket 14 of the embodimentshown in FIG. 5. The rail 12 is inserted and nested into the bracket 14in the same manner as described previously. In this embodiment, the rail12 is attached to the bracket 14 in the following manner. A hole 62 ispreferably drilled into a side of the rail 12, preferably a hollow rail12, by the person installing the fence at the fence assembly site.Preferably, the hole 62 is located ⅛ inch from the bracket 14 asindicated in FIG. 7 by the space designated as reference numeral 64. Asecond hole 62 is then drilled into the opposite side of the rail in thesame manner as the first hole 62. It will be appreciated to thoseskilled in the art that the pin 60 could also be attached in any othersuitable manner. The ⅛ inch space accommodates expansion and contractionof the material used to construct the rail 12 and bracket 14. The pin 60provides an advantage over a screw fastener because the smooth surfaceof the pin 60 will not cut into the material used to construct the rail12 like the sharp edges of a screw. Repeated contraction and expansionof the rail 12 causes the sharp edges of a screw to form a stress point,which over time can cause the rail 12 to fail.

[0052] Referring again to FIG. 7, the pin 60 is held into place by thecover 16, after the cover 16 is snapped into place onto the bracket 14with interference tabs 70. Preferably, the pin 60 is of a lengthsubstantially the same distance as the width between the two insideedges 66 of the cover 16. The length of the pin 60 allows the two endsof the pin 60 to extend past the two outer edges 63 of the rail 12 andcontact the inside edges 67 of the bracket 14 to prevent the rail 12from sliding out of the bracket 14. Once the pin 60 has been insertedinto the rail 12, the cover 16 is slid into place. The inside edges 66of the cover 16 prevents the pin 60 from sliding out of the rail 12.

[0053] The use of the pin 60 to secure the rail 12 to the bracket 14provides the fence installer with more versatility. For instance, theuse of the pin 60 makes attachment of a rail 12 to a bracket 14 easierwhen the rail 12 is being installed at an angle, such as on a stairwaywhere the rail 12 is attached to the bracket 14 at an angle.

[0054] The term “intercoupling” as used herein, such as in the phrase“intercoupling means for intercoupling the fence rail and said fencerail support,” shall be construed broadly to refer to any means ormethod of providing a mechanical contact connection between at least twomembers, regardless of whether said connection is an interference fitconnection, or a frictional connection, or some other contactconnection. For example, the rail bracket operates to intercouple thefence rail to the fence post, with or within the pin member or snap-ontrim, simply by being attached to the fence post and serving as a typeof tray on which the fence rail may rest. Therefore, even though thefence rail may be easily lifted off of the rail bracket if the pinmember and snap-on trim are not used, and bracket nonetheless operatesto intercouple the fence rail to the fence post by supporting the railin the manner of a type of tray connected to the post.

[0055] From the descriptions above, it will be appreciated that onefeature of the present invention is to provide a rail bracket mountingsystem that is simple in design and operation.

[0056] It is another feature of the present invention, in accordancewith one aspect thereof, to provide a rail bracket mounting system thatsupports the rail during attachment, such that the rail may be securedwithout separate support.

[0057] It is another feature of the present invention, in accordancewith one aspect thereof, to provide such a rail bracket mounting systemthat includes a means to guide a rail into alignment with the post.

[0058] It is a further feature of the present invention, in accordancewith one aspect thereof, to provide a support means that resides belowthe lowest portion of the rail.

[0059] It is an additional feature of the invention, in accordance withone aspect thereof, to provide a rail bracket mounting system capable ofbeing used with either a hollow rail or a solid rail.

[0060] It is also a feature of the invention, in accordance with oneaspect thereof, to provide a means by which a hollow rail may bereinforced along its entire length.

[0061] It is another feature of the invention, in accordance with oneaspect thereof, to provide a rail bracket mounting system in which thesecuring fasteners are not exposed.

[0062] Additional features and advantages of the invention have eitherbeen set forth in the foregoing description or are apparent from it, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention without undueexperimentation. The features and advantages of the invention may berealized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fence-rail securing assembly for securing afence rail to a fence rail support, said securing assembly comprising: abracket member configured and adapted to be attached to the rail supportfor receiving a free end of the rail thereupon such that a portion ofthe bracket member resides beneath a lower side of the rail; andsecuring means for securing the rail to the bracket member, wherein saidsecuring means comprises a pin member that is slidable through aplurality of openings formed in the bracket member and also through aplurality of openings in the rail, when said openings in the bracketmember and rail are all disposed in alignment with one another, said pinmember being characterized by an absence of male threads formed thereon.2. The fence rail securing assembly of claim 1, wherein the securingmeans consists essentially of a single pin member.
 3. A fence-railsecuring assembly for securing a fence rail to a fence rail support,said securing assembly comprising: intercoupling means attachable to thefence rail support for intercoupling the fence rail and said fence railsupport; and a single pin member configured and dimensioned for beingslidably inserted into, and residing within, at least two openingsformed in the fence rail and at least two openings formed in theintercoupling means, simultaneously, to thereby block movement of thefence rail in at least a first direction with respect to theintercoupling means.
 4. A method for securing a fence rail to a fencerail support, comprising: (a) attaching a bracket member to anupwardly-extending fence rail support; (b) placing a free end of a fencerail into engagement with the bracket member; and (c) sliding a smoothpin member through a plurality of openings formed in the bracket memberand in the rail when said openings are all disposed in alignment withone another, said single pin member being characterized by an absence ofmale threads formed thereon, such that said pin member operates toprevent the fence rail from separating from the bracket member. (b)further comprises placing a free end of a fence rail on top of a supportsurface of the bracket member.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein part(b) further comprises sliding a trim member onto the free end of thefence rail before placing the fence rail onto the bracket member.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising: (d) sliding the trim member alongthe fence rail and from said rail onto the bracket member and snappingthe trim member into engagement with the bracket member such that aninterference fit exists between said trim member and the bracket member,wherein the trim member is thereby positioned to block removal of thepin member from the opening into which it resides.
 7. The method ofclaim 4, wherein step (c) further comprises drilling two openings intothe fence rail before sliding the smooth pin member through theplurality of openings.
 8. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the pinmember further comprises a substantially straight member.
 9. Theassembly of claim 4, wherein the pin member further comprises asubstantially straight member having a uniform thickness along amajority length thereof.
 10. A method for securing a fence rail to afence rail support, comprising: (a) intercoupling the fence rail and thefence rail support by sliding a first pin member through at least twoopenings formed in the fence rail and at least two openings formed inthe intercoupling means, such that said first pin member residessimultaneously within all of said at least two openings in the fencerail and said at least two openings in the intercoupling means, tothereby block movement of the fence rail in at least a first directionwith respect to the intercoupling means.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein part (a) further comprises the step of aligning all of the atleast two openings in the fence rail and the at least two openings inthe intercoupling means, such that all said openings are bisected by animaginary straight line.
 12. A fence-rail securing assembly for securinga fence rail to a fence rail support, said securing assembly comprising:bracket means attachable to the fence rail support for supporting oneend of a fence rail in a suspended position; and blocking means forbeing inserted into and extending through a width of the fence rail,such that opposing ends of said blocking means protrude from opposingsides of said fence rail, respectively, and reside between the fencerail support and at least a portion of the bracket means, to therebyblock removal of the fence rail from the bracket means.
 13. Thefence-rail securing assembly of claim 12, wherein the blocking meanscomprises a pin.
 14. The fence-rail securing assembly of claim 13,wherein the pin is constructed from metal.
 15. The fence-rail securingassembly of claim 13, wherein the pin is constructed from stainlesssteel.
 16. The fence-rail securing assembly of claim 13, wherein the pinis {fraction (3/16)} of an inch in diameter.
 17. The fence-rail securingassembly of claim 12, further comprising a retaining means for retainingthe blocking means in position within the fence rail.
 18. The fence-railsecuring assembly of claim 17, wherein the retaining means comprises acover configured and dimensioned to slidably circumscribe the fencerail.
 19. The fence-rail securing assembly of claim 18, wherein theretaining means circumscribes the bracket means and the fence rail whendisposed in position to retain the blocking means.
 20. A fence systemincluding a securing assembly for securing a fence rail to a fence railsupport, said securing assembly comprising: bracket means attachable tothe fence rail support for supporting one end of a fence rail in asuspended position; and blocking means for being inserted into andextending through a width of the fence rail, such that opposing ends ofsaid blocking means protrude from opposing sides of said fence rail,respectively, and reside between the fence rail support and at least aportion of the bracket means, to thereby block removal of the fence railfrom the bracket means.